Leeville to receive cultural designation

Published: Monday, April 29, 2013 at 11:18 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, April 29, 2013 at 11:18 a.m.

There is a growing push to revive the Leeville community by branding it as a fishing village.

The small community south of the levees between Golden Meadow and Fourchon has received conditional approval to become a Cultural District through the state Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.

There is also a bill traversing the state legislature that would create a commission to promote the community.

“First and foremost, it gives Leeville some recognition. We are trying to breathe some fresh air into this community,” said Janet Rhodus, founder of Launch Leeville, a nonprofit promoting the area.

The area will be named a cultural district in July. The certification brings with it various tax incentives for businesses in the district.

“It takes these types of things to make something happen in a place like Leeville, where otherwise people say it is not worth the money,” Rhodus said.

Rhodus lives in Baton Rouge but owns a home in Golden Meadow and has been fishing in Leeville since 1991. Her background is in commercial real estate, and her organization has received no money from the parish.

There are 63 areas with the designation, including the nearby Grand Isle and Grand Cheniere Caminada Cultural District. Terrebonne Parish has the Houma Cultural District as well.

The designation is specifically for areas with a high concentration of “cultural facilities” that “serve as the anchor attraction.”

Aside from exposure and branding, Rhodus said the tax credits available for rehabilitation will help attract more investment in the area, which she sees as a prime spot for a fishing and outdoors tourism center.

“There are some big plots of property that could be developed,” Rhodus said. “If these creative things come to pass, we could have some really nice development in Leeville.”

The area could receive another boost from a bill pushed by state Sen. Norby Chabert, R-Houma, that would create a commission to promote tourism for the “Leeville Fishing Village.”

The commission could raise money and acquire, lease or sell land. The commission would be appointed from Ward 10 property owners by local government leaders.

“We want it to focus on tourist and preservation efforts to enhance Leeville,” Rhodus said.

The cultural designation and hopeful passage of the commission is two in a series of victories for the area, Rhodus said.

The parish received final permitting for a public boat launch in the area earlier this year. Construction should begin before the end of the year, said Councilman Daniel Lorraine.

The area also recently hosted its largest kayak fishing tournament, which drew about 400 people, Rhodus said.

“We actually had a traffic in jam in Leeville, and it wasn’t because of the bridge,” Rhodus joked. “It was a wonderful thing to see Leeville that busy. We could have this crowd every weekend here.”

<p>There is a growing push to revive the Leeville community by branding it as a fishing village.</p><p>The small community south of the levees between Golden Meadow and Fourchon has received conditional approval to become a Cultural District through the state Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.</p><p>There is also a bill traversing the state legislature that would create a commission to promote the community.</p><p>“First and foremost, it gives Leeville some recognition. We are trying to breathe some fresh air into this community,” said Janet Rhodus, founder of Launch Leeville, a nonprofit promoting the area.</p><p>The area will be named a cultural district in July. The certification brings with it various tax incentives for businesses in the district.</p><p> “It takes these types of things to make something happen in a place like Leeville, where otherwise people say it is not worth the money,” Rhodus said.</p><p>Rhodus lives in Baton Rouge but owns a home in Golden Meadow and has been fishing in Leeville since 1991. Her background is in commercial real estate, and her organization has received no money from the parish.</p><p>There are 63 areas with the designation, including the nearby Grand Isle and Grand Cheniere Caminada Cultural District. Terrebonne Parish has the Houma Cultural District as well.</p><p>The designation is specifically for areas with a high concentration of “cultural facilities” that “serve as the anchor attraction.”</p><p>Aside from exposure and branding, Rhodus said the tax credits available for rehabilitation will help attract more investment in the area, which she sees as a prime spot for a fishing and outdoors tourism center. </p><p>“There are some big plots of property that could be developed,” Rhodus said. “If these creative things come to pass, we could have some really nice development in Leeville.”</p><p>The area could receive another boost from a bill pushed by state Sen. Norby Chabert, R-Houma, that would create a commission to promote tourism for the “Leeville Fishing Village.”</p><p>The commission could raise money and acquire, lease or sell land. The commission would be appointed from Ward 10 property owners by local government leaders.</p><p>“We want it to focus on tourist and preservation efforts to enhance Leeville,” Rhodus said. </p><p>The cultural designation and hopeful passage of the commission is two in a series of victories for the area, Rhodus said. </p><p>The parish received final permitting for a public boat launch in the area earlier this year. Construction should begin before the end of the year, said Councilman Daniel Lorraine. </p><p>The area also recently hosted its largest kayak fishing tournament, which drew about 400 people, Rhodus said. </p><p>“We actually had a traffic in jam in Leeville, and it wasn't because of the bridge,” Rhodus joked. “It was a wonderful thing to see Leeville that busy. We could have this crowd every weekend here.”</p>